Hayden
automatic take-up cartridge



Dec. 2, 1969 J. F. HAYDEN Re. 26,729

AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP CARTRIDGE Original Filed Aug. 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JAMES F. HAYDEN QZU/M BY ATTORNEYS Dec. 2, 1969 J. F. HAYDEN AUTOMATIC TAKEUP CARTRIDGE 2 Sheets-Sheet z Original Filed Aug. 25, 1965 JAMES F HAYDEN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 26,729 AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP CARTRIDGE James F. Hayden, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Original No. 3,322,366, dated May 30, 1967, Ser. No. 482,519, Aug. 25, 1965. Application for reissue Jan. 6, 1969, Ser. No. 799,141

Int. Cl. G03b N04 US. Cl. 242-7 1.1 17 Claims Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cartridge adapted to receive and wima' a strip of photographic film. Illustratively, this cartridge includes a casing with an opening for the passage of the strip and a take-up core, a flexible guide member disposable in. a first position for directing the strip about the take-up core and disposable in a second position remote from the takeup core, and means accessible from the exterior of the casing for moving the flexible guide member between the first and second positions.

My invention relates generally to take-up apparatus for strip material, and more particularly to a device for receiving and storing a photographic film.

Film take-up devices have heretofore been devised with a principal emphasis placed on means for maintaining tension on the film to assure uniform Winding onto a core. Commonly, devices of this nature have required that a perforated film leader be gripped by the core through means of a catch or tooth before the winding process is begun. Others rely on overlap of film convolutions on the core.

This invention is concerned primarily with cartridgetype automatic take-up devices for flexible strip material particularly of the non-perforated type. The invention could be utilized in conjunction with the winding and reeling of any strip material including motion picture film, magnetic tape, microfilm, cloth etc. The device is particularly useful to receive exposed microfilm being fed from the film unit or picture taking portion of a microfilmer. It is to be understood that the described apparatus can be used with flexible strip material of the perforated or non-perforated type. No manual attachment of the free end of the film to the take-up core in the cartridge is required, as a retractable guide means is provided whereby the film, when inserted through an opening in the cartridge, is guided around a rotatably driven take-up core a sufiicient number of times to assure a non-slip friction grip with the surface of the core. The retractable guide is then manually or mechanically retracted, and the driven core continues to wind the film. When the cartridge is removed from its receptacle within the camera, the cartridge opening through which the film was passed is closed in a light-tight manner.

An object of this invention is to provide a device for winding film onto a take-up core.

Another object of this invention is to provide a film take-up cartridge for receiving film and securing the free end of the film to a driven core without manual handling of the film.

A further object of this invention is to provide a takeup cartridge with a light sealing means for the film entrance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description given with relation to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the same with cover removed.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1-4 inclusive comprise a cartridge casing 9, which may be made of a durable plastic material or of any material which economic considerations or specific circumstances may demand. An opening 11 is provided in the casing 9 for the passage of film into or out of the cartridge. A takeup core 23 serves to receive and Wind the film when driven by driving means 39 in association with hub 25, hub 25 preferably being integral with core 23. Driving means 39 may be rotatably driven by a suitable motor M shown in FIGURE 1.

Cartridges of the nature of the embodiment of FIG- URES 1-4 may be adapted to be used in conjunction with the photographing station of a microfilm copier to receive exposed film in light-tight relationship with the picture taking portion or film unit. Conveniently, a complementary recess is usually provided in the film unit to receive the cartridge. The neck 10 comprising opening 11 is inserted into such a recess, and the cartridge is locked therein. Within the opening 11 are two bell cranks 13 pivoting on pivot pin 17, the bell ranks 13 being located, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, on opposite sides of the cartridge and rotatably supporting roller 19, as shown in FIGURE 4. The bell crank and roller assembly is spring biased by leaf spring 14 to urge roller 19 to a light-tight position within opening 11 when the cartridge is separated from the camera.

Upon insertion of the cartridge into the complementary recess within a film unit or camera, actuating member 15 is displaced to the right by a projection Within the camera, such as projection 16 shown in FIGURE 2. Actuating member 15 is rigidly attached to bell cranks 13, and its displacement causes the bell crank and roller assembly to pivot clockwise about pins 17 to move roller 19 away from its light-sealing position within opening 11. Film may then be moved through opening 11 over the top of roller 19. Rotatably driven driving means 39 is adapted to couple with hub 25 to drive take-up core 23. Any mechanical coupling may be used, but the most appropriate would be a magnetic coupling, the hub 25 having, for example, metallic segments along its sides or a fiat metal disk in the hub recess, the driving means 39 then comprising a rotatable magnetic material positioned adjacent the hub 25. By providing such magnetic coupling, the tension on the film may be maintained within a preselected maximum limit determined by the strength of the coupling, the core 23 ceasing to rotate when this limit is reached, while the driving means 39 continues to rotate. A further advantage of such a coupling is to reduce shock on the film when taking up slack.

Retractable guide 27 is preferably of a resilient steel maten'al and is initially disposed within the cartridge in close proximity to a substantial portion of the surface 24 of take-up core 23, surface 24 having a relatively high coefficient of friction to assure good frictional engagement with the film. Retractable guide 27 is adapted to be moved within guide tracks 34 and 35. Tab members 28, 29 and 30 are aifixed to the retractable guide 27, and slots 31 and 33 are provided within the casing 9 for their movement.

Retractable guide 27 may be pulled along guide track 34 by convergence of both tab members 28 and 29 towards abutment 37. Such action may be accomplished manually or mechanically and will result in the guide 27 being disposed adjacent the internal periphery 9a of casing 9, thus in the fully retracted position. The movement of tab members 28 and 29 toward abutment 37 also causes tab member 30, which is interconnected with tab member 29, to move toward abutment 38. Tab member 30 may serve as an interlock to operate a switch which will allow the camera to take pictures only when tab member 30 is adjacent abutment 38.

Retractable guide 27 could also serve as a tensioning device to assure uniform winding of the film on the core. The guide 27 would then desirably have a sufficiently low friction surface and be sufficiently flexible to allow the film to move it back towards the internal periphery 9a without scratching the surface of the film. Thus, it would not be necessary to mechanically move the tab members toward abutments 37 and 38.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, the cartridge is inserted into a complementary recess of a camera, and actuating member 15 is displaced by projection 16 to move roller 19 from its light-sealing position within opening 11. Driving means 39 is coupled to hub 25 and is adapted to rotate upon actuation of the camera drive motor. Film from the camera is driven over the top of roller 19 and moves as indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 2 between resilient guide member 21 and retractable guide 27, with guides 21 and 27 in the position shown in FIG- DRE 2. The free end of the film moves between retractable guide 27 and rotating core 23 and is frictionally engaged by surface 24 of core 23. When the free end of the film has wrapped around core 23 a sufficient number of times to assure a firm grip thereon, retractable guide 27 is moved back out of the way against the internal periphery 9a of casing 9 by the manual or mechanical movement of tab members 28 and 29 to abutment 37. Movement of tab member 30 to abutment 38 allows the picture taking sequence to begin. It is preferable that the driving means 39 be rotating at a speed sufiicient to maintain tension on the film between core 23 and the photographing station. When a magnetic coupling is provided, a constant tension may be maintained, and the film may then be uniformly wound onto core 23.

As the film builds up on core 23, resilient guide member 21 is accordingly backed off toward the internal periphery 9a of casing 9 by the building up of the film on the core. Guide member 21 is sufiiciently flexible that it is easily moved back so that it does not scratch the surface of the film. It may be desired to place a small roller at the end of guide member 21 to contact the film. In addition to serving as a guide, resilient guide member 21 maintains a slight braking action on the film and core, thus preventing the core from clock springing or rotating in reverse direction when the full cartridge is disengaged from the camera.

The cartridge is removed from the camera housing when the film has been wound onto core 23, and actuating member 15 is returned to its initial position due to the action of leaf spring 14 on bell cranks 13. Roller 19 then takes its initial position within opening 11, and the cartridge is sealed from light. It will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that the apparatus of the present invention provides a simple and reliable means for winding the free end of flexible strip material such as film. No manual attachment of the film to the takeup core is necessary, the film end being guided into the cartridge and around the core by itself.

The invention has been described in considerable detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodirnents thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be eficcted within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove, and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for receiving and winding a flexible strip [material] having a leading end, into a coil having a periphery, said device having a casing provided with an opening for the passage of the [material] strip thereinto and having a [rotatably driven] rotatable take-up core, the improvement comprising: retractable guide means [disposed adjacent said core for guiding] movable from a first position for directing the leading end of [said] the strip [material] around said take-up core to a second position disposed remote from said takeup core, and means [for retracting said retractable guide means away from said core when said strip material has been wound a sufiicient number of times around said core to assure a firm grip thereon] coupled to said guide means and accessible from the exterior of said casing for moving said guide means between said first and second positions.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, [and] further comprising a spring biased [second] member [adapted to cooperate] in said casing for cooperating with said retractable guide means [for guiding said] to guide the leading end of the strip [material] into wind ing relation with said core.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 and wherein said [second] spring biased member is positioned to resiliently contact [the outer] the periphery of [strip material] the coil as [it] the strip is wound on said core thereby improving] to improve uniformity of winding.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1, [and] wherein said retractable guide means comprises a resilient member which [is movable between a position] in said first position is disposed closely adjacent to [a substantial peripheral portion of the core surface, in which position] said take-up core so that the strip [material] is directed to wind [upon itself] upon and frictionally grip [the] said take-up core, and [a retracted position in which the resilient member] which in said second po sition is located adjacent to [the] an inner peripheral surface of [the] said casing.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 and wherein:

(a) said casing is provided with an abutment surface,

and

(b) said [retracting] means for moving comprises [actuating] means having an abutment portion ac cessible from the exterior of [the] said casing and engageable with said abutment surface for determining [the retracted] said second position of [the] said retractable guide means [upon engaging the] by engagement with said abutment surface.

6. The invention in accordance with claim [5] I and further comprising a roller assembly adjacent said opening, said roller assembly comprising a roller rotatably supported between two bell cranks pivotally supported adjacent to said opening, said bell cranks being spring biased to urge said roller into said opening, [and means for overcoming] said bell cranks being pivotally mounted against the spring bias to selectively move said roller away from said opening, whereby [said] the leading end of strip [material] moves over the surface of said roller in contact therewith during passage of [said] the strip [material] into said casing.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 1 and wherein said retractable guide means [is adapted to fit] in said first position fits closely [about a substantial peripheral portion of the core surface] to said take-up core thereby causing said] to cause the strip [material] to wind tightly upon itself and frictionally grip [the] said take-up core after a minimum number of turns around [the] said take-up core.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 1 and wherein said retractable guide means comprises a resilient member movable by said [retracting] means for moving to [a] said second position adjacent [the] an inner peripheral surface of [the] said casing.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 1 and wherein said casing is provided with an abutment surface and wherein said means for moving [retracting] comprises an abutment portion for locating [the retracted] said second position of said retractable guide means [when] upon engagement of said abutment portion [is disposed adjacent] with said abutment surface.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 1 and wherein said means for [retracting] moving comprises an actuating means accessible from the exterior of said casing for retraction of said guide means.

[11. The invention in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising a roller assembly adjacent said opening, said roller assembly comprising a roller rotatably supported between two bell cranks pivotally supported adjacent to said opening, said bell cranks being spring biased to urge said roller into said openings, and means for overcoming the spring bias to selectively move said roller away from said opening, whereby said strip material moves over the surface of said roller in contact therewith during passage of said strip material into said casing] 12. In a film cartridge for use with a photographic film camera for receiving and winding a photographic film having a leading end being fed from [said] the camera, said cartridge having a casing provided with an opening for the passage of [said] the film [thereinto] therethrough and having a [rotatably driven] rotatable take-up core, [and] said film cartridge being adapted to be inserted into a complementary recess in the camera in position to receive [said] the film, the improvement comprising light-sealing means adjacent said opening comprising a roller rotatably supported between two bell cranks, said bell cranks being pivotally supported adjacent said opening and being spring biased to urge said roller [in] into light-tight relationship with said opening when said cartridge is removed from [said] the camera, [means for pivoting] said bell cranks being pivotally suspended against the spring bias to move said roller away from its light-sealing position when said cartridge is inserted into [said] the complementary recess [,1 and to position said roller [being thereupon positioned] for passage of [said] the film thereover in [peripheral] contact therewith, retractable guide means disposed adjacent said take-up core for guiding the lea-ding end of [said] the film around said take-up core, and means for retracting said retractable guide means away from said take-up core when [said] the film has been wound a suificient number of times around said take-up core to assure a firm grip thereon.

13. A device according to claim 12, the improvement further comprising a spring biased resilient guide member [adapted to co-operate] in said casing for cooperating with said retractable guide means for guiding [said] the film onto said take-up core, said resilient guide member being positioned to resiliently contact [the outer periphery of] the film as it is wound onto said take-up core, thereby improving uniformity of winding and inhibiting clockspringing.

14. The invention as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retractable guide means includes a flexible member.

15. The invention as claimed in claim 14, wherein said flexible member forms, when disposed in said first position, a path of decreasing dimension about said take-up core.

16. The invention as claimed in claim I, wherein said take-up core includes a surface exposed to the strip, at least a portion of said surface having a coefiicient of friction suflicient to assure frictional engagement with the strip.

17. The invention as claimed in claim 1, wherein said case supports said retractable guide means in a sliding relationship so that said guide means is moved from said first position to said second position as the strip is wound about said take-up core.

18. In a film cartridge for receiving and winding a strip of photographic film having a leading end, said cartridge having a casing with an opening for the passage of the strip therethrough and having a rotatable take-up core, the improvement comprising movable guide means disposable between first and second positions, said guide means operating in said first position to direct the leading end of the strip from said opening along a path about said take-up care, said guide means in said second position being disposed remotely from said take-up core, means accessible from the exterior of said cdsing for moving said guide means from said first position to said second position, and sealing means movable from a first position to allow the passage of the strip through said opening to a second position to seal said opening in a light-tight manner.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are of record in the patented file of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 999,679 8/1911 Selig. 1,921,560 8/1933 Case 24271.1 X 2,662,696 12/1953 Nerwin 24271.1 3,195,824 7/1965 Laa et a1. 2427l.1 X

NATHAN L. MINTZ, Primary Examiner 

